(OCT 13) NEW YORK CITY – Three-time,
two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (19-5, 1 KO) is long overdue for her
8th world title fight and the Japanese boxer will finally get that opportunity
on November 8th against World Boxing Council (WBC) World Super Bantamweight
Champion Skye Nicolson (16-1, 3 KOs) in a ten-round title fight on the “MVP 07”
card, airing live on ESPN from Arlington, Texas.
Yoshida is a promotional free agent who has fought only twice since 2024. “I’m
very excited,” the popular Yoshida said about her upcoming match. “I have no
amateur boxing background, but after giving birth to my daughter at the age of
27, I fully committed myself to boxing and eventually became world champion at
115 and 118 pounds. Now, I’m challenging myself to win a world title at 122
pounds and can become a 3-divison world champion. I’m grateful to have made it
this far. Through this fight I want to show that regardless of age,
circumstances, when you started boxing, or the path you’ve taken there are
always possibilities if you continue to challenge yourself.
“I was disappointed when this fight was postponed from September in the UK to
(Nov. 7) Texas. I had been preparing for this world title fight for a long time.
After bringing myself to a physical and mental peak, I had to reset and build
myself back up again. There are things in boxing that are simply beyond your
control. The location has changed from the UK to Texas, but the most important
thing for me is getting the opportunity to fight Skye for the world title. No
matter where the fight takes place, my job remains the same. Now, I’m looking
forward to fighting in Texas.”
“I believe a lot of thanks goes to my manager, Keith Sullivan, whom I trust very
much. He has continued to patently support me and never gave up on me. I believe
this world title opportunity is something we’ve earned together as a team. I
didn’t get here by myself.”
Rarely has a world-class boxer such as Yoshida needed to be as patient for so
long as she’s had to for a title shot. In the end, though, it’s all been worth
the excruciating wait."
Yoshida won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight titles in 2019
and again in 2021. On December 23, 2024, she stepped in as a late replacement in
San Francisco and upset IBF Bantamweight World champion Ebanie Bridges (9-1) by
a 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 97-93). On October 23, 2024,
Yoshida relinquished her IBF title on October 23, 2024, in a 10-round rematch
against Shurretta Metcalf (13-5-1, 2 KOs), as the judges had disputed scores of
99-91, 96-94, and 96-93. Yoshida’s manager, Attorney Keith Sullivan,
successfully submitted an appeal to the IBF, asserting that Yoshida’s
performance warranted a different outcome.
The IBF ruled in January 2025 to install Yoshida as its No. 1, mandatory
challenger, ordering Metcalf to defend her crown against Yoshida by October
2025. Metcalf, though, requested and was granted a voluntary defense by the IBF
for a unification fight with Cherneka Johnson (19-3, 8 KOs), the WBA World Super
Bantamweight Champion (18-2, 8 KOs) stopped Metcalf with a 9th-round knockout to
become the undisputed World Super Bantamweight Champion, leaving Yoshida in dire
straits. She was still the IBF No. 1, mandatory challenger but Johnson has 4
mandatory defenses to make, including the IBF.
“Miyo has earned the IBF bantamweight mandatory position,” Sullivan noted, “and
we don’t take lightly the fact that we’re pursuing the WBC super-bantamweight
world title. But Miyo has never been afraid of a challenge, and neither am I. I
didn't want another cycle of inactivity waiting for her title shot while
unification fights and other sanctioning body mandatory commitments took place
ahead of her IBF title opportunity. So, I seized another title opportunity, a
division above. I’ve worked closely with her and know the commitment, toughness
and championship mentality she brings every day. Opportunities to make history
don’t come around often. I believe enough in Miyo to take this chance at a
higher weight division. She’s ready to show the world once again that she
belongs at the very top of this sport when she becomes a three-time world
champion.”
Team Yoshida jumped at the opportunity to move up to the super bantamweight
division to challenge world champion Nicolson for the WBC crown, because of the
belief she has in her skills, experience and drive.
“I’ve never taken the traditional path in boxing,” Yoshida added. “I’m a little
different from most fighters in the boxing world. Moving up is one of the
challenges but, on the other hand, I won’t have to cut as much weight which
means I can step into the ring with more energy and strength. I believe my
strengths are my speed, time and work rate. Rather than trying to match my
opponent’s size, I think the most important thing is to fight my own style of
boxing, even at 122 pounds.”
Yoshida, known as the "Fighting Single Mother" in Japan, is a respected role
model and recipient of Ring Magazine's 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter
award. She is among just 23 female world champions from Japan and only the sixth
to hold world titles in multiple divisions.
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